Tomato seedlings are tall and falling. We determine the causes of wilting of tomato seedlings

Not always spring chores for growing tomatoes please with friendly strong seedlings. Initially healthy plants suddenly begin to wilt and dry. This can be avoided if you find out why the tomato seedlings wither and fall and fix the problem in time.

Causes of wilting seedlings

There are several reasons why seedlings fell. This is due to improper care or diseases.

unsuitable soil

Tomato seedlings wither and die on heavy soils with high acidity. The earthen ball is compacted, sour, does not pass air well. To give the soil airiness, vermiculite is poured onto the surface and lightly mixed with the ground using a regular fork. But the best way- transplant into a well-draining soil with a neutral pH. Increased acidity is reduced by adding wood ash.

planting density

Seedlings wither with thickened plantings. Plants are stretched, grow poorly. Many small bushes are falling. Seedlings do not have enough space, light, nutrients, moisture. Urgent picking or thinning is needed. Tomatoes tolerate transplanting well. If the plants are over 2-3 weeks old and lateral roots are starting to appear, some experts advise removing ⅓ of the central root. This stimulates the growth of lateral roots.

Wrong watering

Regular drying, as well as an excess of moisture in the soil, are harmful. When the soil is dry, the leaves of the seedlings fall. When watering, elasticity is restored. Dry soil is moistened twice with an interval of 2 hours, gradually adding water. Overflow is dangerous because it leads to root rot, the risk of the appearance of a “black leg”. In case of waterlogging, check landing tanks for drainage holes. In their absence or blockage, the water in the pot stagnates, provokes decay.

Tip: “You can save seedlings from wilting with the help of the correct watering regimen and light dusting with wood ash. Humidification is performed after the top layer of the earth has dried.

Lack or excess of light

Tomato seedlings stretch and fall due to insufficient lighting. Light day should be 12-16 hours. During the dark time of the day, the assimilation of nutrients occurs. Illumination with fluorescent lamps, phytolamps begins at the moment the loop is formed. You can increase the illumination of seedlings by installing foil opposite the window. Bright light on the windowsill, direct sunlight provoke withering of seedlings. By rearranging the box in partial shade, you will give the seedlings a chance to recover.

Temperature failure

The optimum temperature for seedling growth is 18-22°C. If it exceeds 36 ° C, the seedlings die. A thermometer below 15°C will lead to poor absorption of phosphorus by the plant (stems and leaves will turn purple), and below 10°C - nitrogen. The result is sad: the suspension of the growth of young seedlings.

Fertilizer Mistakes

Excessive fertilizer provokes lethargy of plants. At self-manufacturing soil is dangerous to make insufficiently rotted organic fertilizers. Purchased soil already has a nutritionally balanced composition. At low temperatures inorganic substances are poorly absorbed by plants. surplus nitrogen fertilizers accumulate on the surface of the soil in the form of whitish deposits. They are removed and a new substrate is added. Shed for several days with a weak solution of humate to restore the soil.

Wrong place

If the seedlings drooped at home on the windowsill, one of the reasons for this may be a draft. Check the quality of window seals, avoid ventilation. Sometimes it is enough to lay paper to isolate the plant from the flow of cold air.

Wrong dive

After picking, the seedlings stand sluggish for 2-3 days and only then restore the elasticity of the leaves and stem. To make this period easier, the plants are shaded, and the green part is treated with Epin's solution. If the seedlings continue to wither, dry up, then you planted it incorrectly. Basic requirements for the correct pick:

  1. Transplantation at the stage of 2-3 true leaves.
  2. Spill well with water.
  3. Pinching the third part of the central root
  4. The recess is quite spacious, the roots do not bend.

Seedling diseases leading to wilting

After germination, seedlings die not only as a result of not proper care but also due to diseases.

Blackleg The basal neck turns black, the root dries up, the foliage wilts and turns yellow. The cause of the disease is high humidity land, low temperatures, dense plantings or lack of light.

At an early stage of the disease, the plant can be saved by transplanting into disinfected soil, washing the roots in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. But in general, it is difficult to fight, it is better to remove the affected shoots along with a clod of earth.

Watering is stopped until the soil is completely dry, powdered with wood ash. Then weekly shed with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Fusarium Fungal infection leads to blanching of the leaves, drying. When the tomatoes fall, they are easily removed from the ground, as the stem rots at the root collar. Sick plants are removed with a clod of earth. The soil is disinfected with means: "Maxim", "Gliocladin", "Fitolavin".

Pests

whitefly- small midge, similar to a moth, the larvae of which are grouped on back side sheet. As a result of their subversion, yellowish spots appear on the leaves, the leaves curl and dry. At home fighting with duct tape for flies and chemicals: "Intavir", "Fufanon", "Aktellik".

How to avoid wilting seedlings

It is easier to prevent the appearance of sluggish, dying seedlings than to deal with this problem later. These preventive measures will help prevent the death of seedlings.

  1. Buy quality seed material from reputable manufacturers.
  2. Decontaminate the soil with a manganese solution or calcinate at high temperature.
  3. Carry out proper care and preventive treatments at the risk of disease.

To avoid lethargy, the death of seedlings, it is necessary to eliminate the causes leading to these problems in time. But best solution will comply with the requirements of proper care and preventive measures fight.

To get seedlings of tomatoes, summer residents sow seeds. It happens that they have already risen, the seedlings began to grow, and suddenly the tomato seedlings fall. You should find out what to do in this case and how to save the plants.

All the reasons due to which seedlings fall can be divided into 2 groups: improper plant care and disease

It is quite difficult to immediately name the reason why tomato seedlings fall. It is necessary to carefully examine the plants, analyze the growing conditions.

All the reasons due to which seedlings disappear can be divided into 2 groups: improper plant care and disease.

With inappropriate care, seedlings first wither, and then may die altogether. In this regard, it is necessary to analyze the conditions for the growth of seedlings.

Let's start with watering. Tomatoes love water and thrive when well watered. However, if the drainage holes are clogged in the container where the seedlings are sown and the water stagnates, then the roots of the seedlings may rot. The soil is compacted, and oxygen to the roots ceases to flow. The root of such a plant suffocates, and the stem may dry out. This is one of the reasons why seedlings may fall. You can save plants in such a situation if you clean the drainage holes, loosen the ground well and stop watering for a couple of days.

With inappropriate care, seedlings first wither, and then may die altogether.

But withering of seedlings can also begin due to insufficient watering. In this case, you need to water the seedlings more often.

How to prevent the death of seedlings (video)

The value of temperature and lighting

You also need to check the temperature in the room where the plants grow. Tomatoes are thermophilic, but place them near hot battery it is forbidden. Overdried and hot air seedlings will be badly affected, and they will begin to wither and fall. Correcting the situation is simple - you need to move the container with the plants away from the battery. In order for the seedlings to be comfortable, the temperature in the room during the day should be + 18-20ºС, at night - + 8-10ºС.

Also, seedlings should not get cold air from the street. If they are located on the windowsill and a window is often opened there, this can also cause tomato seedlings to fall. It is necessary to move the seedlings away from the cold and drafts.

Tomatoes love water and thrive when well watered.

Also, tomatoes should receive required amount Sveta. If the latter is not enough, the seedlings will stretch out too much and will fall under their weight. At good lighting no such problem will arise.

But what if the watering is correct, and everything is in order with the lighting, and the temperature is appropriate, but the plants still disappear?

What is fusarium and why is it dangerous

If the care was correct, and the plants still drooped, some diseases of the seedlings may be the cause.

It is not so easy to fight them. The most difficult thing is to make a diagnosis, determine the disease, and only then can you name the reason why tomato seedlings are falling.

If the care was correct, but the plants still drooped, some seedling diseases may be the cause.

There are diseases that can cause seedlings to wither. One of them is fusarium. This disease is fungal, it very often destroys tomato seedlings. The cause of the disease is contaminated soil. Even if you buy it in special stores, there is no guarantee that it is not infected.

If the care was correct, but the seedlings still fell, you need to do the following:

  1. Dig the plants out of the ground and examine them carefully. On affected seedlings, the vessels in the lower part of the sprout acquire a dark brown color. If this is so, then the seedlings have disappeared and such seedlings must be thrown away, they can no longer be restored.
  2. If the disease is noticed at its very beginning, then the plants can still be saved. It is enough to transplant them into a new, healthy soil.
  3. For transplanting, you need to take another container, disinfect it, fill it with new soil (calcined or treated with manganese solution) and only then transplant the plants.

Blackleg

Another disease called black leg may appear due to improper care of seedlings. The most common cause of the disease is excessive watering. Moisture stagnates in the container where the tomatoes are planted, and causes disease. This is noticeable when examining plants, although their root system at the beginning of the disease looks quite healthy. It begins with the fact that the stem of the plant darkens at the ground level, then the root system changes color, begins to rot, the leaves slowly wither. If nothing is done, the seedlings will die.

The most common cause of the disease is excessive watering. Moisture stagnates in the container where the tomatoes are planted and causes disease

If the seedlings fall due to the black leg, then the best treatment option is to water the soil with a solution of manganese and loosen it. You can also put it in the ground wood ash and loosen too.

Everyone knows that it is better to prevent a disease than to cure it. Therefore, you need to take all measures in advance so that the seedlings feel comfortable.

To arrange the seedlings, it is necessary to choose a window sill on the south side so that the seedlings have enough light

Seedlings will not get sick if:

  1. Before sowing seeds, treat the soil - disinfect with a weak solution of manganese or roast in the oven.
  2. Clean the container - douse with boiling water or treat with the same solution of potassium permanganate.
  3. Before sowing, soak the seeds for 2 hours in a solution of potassium permanganate, then dry and sow.
  4. Sow the seeds not thickly, with an interval of 2-3 cm, so that later the plants do not shade each other.
  5. Water rarely, but plentifully. With such watering, the soil from above will quickly dry out, and in depth it will remain moist.
  6. To prevent excessive compaction of the soil, it is necessary to make a layer of sand in the ground.
  7. Periodically loosening the soil is a good prevention against many plant diseases.
  8. Ventilate the room more often, without creating drafts. This will make the seedlings strong, and they will be less likely to get sick. When the weather is warm, it is advisable to put them outside.

To arrange the seedlings, it is necessary to choose a window sill on the south side so that the seedlings have enough light. If the windows do not face sunny side, then provide plants artificial lighting.

If you follow these tips, there will be no problems with seedlings, and the result will be good harvest tomatoes.

Sometimes seedlings, seemingly healthy and strong, begin to wither and die. This can be avoided if you know why tomato seedlings are dying and help in a timely manner.

Often main reason, because of which seedlings disappear - heavy soil and its hyperacidity. Such seedlings must be transplanted into other soil, otherwise they will fall and die. The new soil into which the transplant will be carried out should be decontaminated. To this end, the soil is calcined in the oven, frozen or watered with a solution of potassium permanganate, which kills pests that are in the soil and can damage young plants. Such prophylaxis does not affect the germination of seeds.

An important reason why tomato seedlings wither and fall is the unjustified thickening of the planted plants. Due to the lack of nutrients in the soil, sunlight and air, the tomatoes die. Optimal distance when planting tomato seeds in containers, the row spacing is considered to be 5 cm, and the gap between such plants in rows is 2 cm.

Why tomato seedlings die after picking

If the seedlings fall due to the density of seedlings, then in this case a dive should be carried out. The vacated space of the soil is sprinkled with ash powder or calcined sand. After diving, the tomatoes can stand wilted for another 2 - 3 days.

Tomatoes can wither if the pick was done incorrectly. Some rules for this procedure should be observed:

  • elongated tomato seedlings are transplanted only after 2-3 true leaves appear on it;
  • to form a strong root system, pinch the main root by about 1/3 of the part;
  • dived plants should be removed from the soil very carefully, after watering the soil with warm water;
  • the seedlings taken out of the soil are placed again in the ground, making a sufficient recess so that the roots in the ground do not bend.

Also, when transplanting tomatoes, it is necessary to ensure that the soil is of the appropriate composition.

Note! Excess moisture can have a negative effect on tomato seedlings, as well as its lack.

After the dive, watering should be limited for the next 2 days. In addition, plants are transplanted into containers in which holes must be made. This will help the roots get oxygen, as well as allow excess moisture to flow out of the pot. Stagnation of water can cause the leaves to curl and turn yellow. In this case, you can feel the smell of mold. Eventually improper watering, after a few days you can see that the seedlings are gone.

pay attention to Negative consequences excess moisture in pots. Better take necessary measures at the start of this process. To make sure the container has drainage holes, you can tilt it to the side. If they are not there, they are made with a nail heated on fire.

In case of clogging, the holes are cleaned in order to free the container from excess moisture in order to prevent the seedlings from falling.

Insufficient watering

Tomato seedlings also die due to insufficiency irrigation regime. The lack of moisture in the soil is characterized by its friability and increased dryness. But immediately abundantly pour tomatoes with moisture is not worth it. In this case, it is better to start with watering at 30 - 40 grams per 1 plant. Otherwise, the tomatoes will turn yellow. In addition, the soil in the container should be loosened. This process is also called "dry irrigation".

The next reason why plants can fall is considered to be insufficient light. About the lack of light initial stage can be judged by this outward sign- tomato seedlings stretched out. They require natural or artificial lighting for 12 hours a day. On cloudy days, it is necessary to highlight with fitolamps so that the seedlings do not stretch.

An excess of light flux also negatively affects tomatoes. Leaves may turn yellow, dry and wilt. Then the whole plant dies. Additional lighting with phytolamps at night is not required. Since in the dark the plant can absorb the necessary substances and oxygen.

Violation of the temperature regime

Stretched tomatoes can die due to non-compliance with the temperature regime. If the temperature in the room rises above +36 degrees, then the plants overheat and dry out. Therefore, containers should not be left near heating appliances. Also, at low temperatures (less than +15 degrees), tomatoes stop growing. +18 - +20 degrees is considered optimal for the growth and development of tomatoes.

In order for the tomatoes to harden, they are put out for the night in a cooler room, in which the temperature is 3-4 degrees lower. In addition, seedlings do not tolerate drafts. For this heat-loving plant, cold air causes wilting. Therefore, when airing the room, the container with planted tomatoes is removed away from the cool air flow.

Growing on a windowsill

Before you decide to grow tomato seedlings on your windowsill, you need to close up the gaps to avoid drafts. It is also not recommended to open the window to ventilate the room. This can lead to the death of plants.

Why do tomato seedlings fall in containers exposed to the north side of the house? There is not enough light for her, as well as a lot of cold air. In this case, the plant is strongly stretched and acquires an unhealthy color. But the south side is also not appropriate place for young tomatoes. There they suffer from an excess of solar heat and overheating.

Lack of fertilizer

The lack of nutrients in the soil also affects the fact that the leaves turn yellow. Excessive dosing of fertilizers applied to the soil under tomatoes can lead to root burns and plant death. Fertilizers can also spoil upper layer soil. If a dense crust with a whitish tint appears on the soil, then it should be removed, and the soil in the container should be watered with an unsaturated humate solution for several days.

Cause of death due to disease

When tomato seedlings are infected with any disease, it is not easy to save them. Even if the soil was disinfected before planting tomato seeds, but the foliage turned yellow and falls off, and the roots become dark in color, it is possible that these are manifestations of fusarium. What to do so that tomato seedlings do not fall from this fungal disease? You can try to save it by transplanting it into another container with soil that has undergone disinfection. But still, when buying seeds, you should make sure that the variety is resistant to this pathogen.

If the sown tomatoes are infected with the blackleg virus, the seedlings will not be saved. It is necessary to remove them in time so that infection of healthy plants does not occur. The disease begins with the darkening of the main stem near the soil, and then the whole plant wilts. As a preventive measure to combat such a problem, the soil is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate before sowing the seeds.

Very hard to find household plot, on which, among other crops, there are no tomatoes. Today there are several thousand varieties of tomatoes. Growing tomatoes seedless and seedling way. The technology for growing seedlings is not difficult, but it requires the vegetable grower to comply with certain rules.

Types and varieties of tomatoes

First of all, you need to choose a tomato variety for cultivation in the garden that meets your own tastes and requirements. Tomatoes differ in the size of the fruit, they can be:

  • small-fruited (Cherry, Mirabelle);
  • medium-sized (Martin, Volgogradets);
  • plum-shaped (Roma);
  • large-fruited (pink Bull's heart).

Tomato bushes can be tall and short. The former are grown on trellises, the latter do not need a garter and supports.

Important! Not all tomatoes are suitable for preservation, some are used only for eating raw.

There are varieties that are grown for making tomato juice and pasta.

Conditions for growing seedlings

It is quite possible to grow seedlings of tomatoes on your own at home. For this you need to have:

  • suitable window sill;
  • seedling boxes;
  • ready soil;
  • quality seed.

Seedlings should be planted in certain deadlines. For crops, you need to provide suitable temperature regime and timely watering.

Why tomato seedlings fall and wither

Even vegetable growers with extensive experience are often faced with the fact that young shoots suddenly begin to wither and turn yellow. And although there are many reasons for this, they can all be divided into two main groups:

  • improper care;
  • illness.

Wrong watering

Young shoots really need enough moisture and light. They need to be watered regularly with a spray bottle. The soil in the seedling box should be moist and loose. It is necessary to water so that the soil in the container does not turn into a swamp. Under such conditions, the roots of plants will begin to rot, and the sprout will wither.

Important! If the leaves on the seedlings withered and faded, you need to check if the drainage holes in the pots are clogged. Perhaps excess water accumulates in the container and its excess caused the sprouts to wilt.

If the soil in pots is constantly wet, you need to increase the size of the drainage holes and reduce the number of waterings.

lack of moisture

If the plant is watered infrequently, why do tomato seedlings wither and fall? Young shoots can wither, including from a lack of moisture. The fact that the plants do not have enough water is indicated by dry crumbling soil in the container and yellowed leaves on the seedlings. In such conditions, the plants begin to dry out.

Leaf curl

To remedy the situation, it is enough to increase the number of waterings. It often happens that in a too hot room, the soil in seedling boxes and pots dries out too quickly, and the novice vegetable grower does not water the plants more often than prescribed in the manual. In this case, you need to water the plants as needed, as soon as the soil dries slightly.

Important! Seedlings are watered only from a spray bottle. It is impossible to water weak sprouts from a mug, so you can damage them or fill them too much.

High room temperature

Seedling boxes should not be placed close to heat sources. High temperatures will negatively affect the condition of the seedlings.

Window sills and well-lit shelving are quite suitable for seedlings. It is impossible to put them next to the battery on the floor or near the stove.

drafts

Seedlings are very fond of Fresh air, so the room where it grows should be regularly ventilated. When opening a window, you need to make sure that there is no draft in the room.

On a note. Cold air currents are detrimental to seedlings. Drafted seedlings begin to hurt and dry, they look sluggish. The edges of the leaves curl up.

Eliminating this cause is quite easy. To save the plants, you just need to take out the boxes with seedlings from the room for the time of airing.

dense sowing

During sowing, seeds should be placed at a sufficient distance from each other. This is very important condition, which may further affect the development and growth tomato bushes. Too thick sowing leads to a lack of nutrients.

After the appearance of two or three full-fledged leaves on the shoots, the plants should be seated in separate cups. If the sowing is too thick, the seedlings are weak. After transplantation, such shoots are poorly accepted, look lethargic, their top and leaves fall.

It is difficult to transplant it, the roots of neighboring plants are intertwined so that it is impossible to untangle them without damaging them. This is the answer to the question of why tomatoes wither and die after picking. .

Tomato seedlings wither and wither in the greenhouse

It often happens that transplanted into a greenhouse completely healthy seedlings poorly received and withers.

There are several reasons for this:

  • sprouts are transplanted too early, before the appearance of 2-3 full-fledged leaves;
  • it is too hot in the greenhouse;
  • in greenhouse soil live larvae harmful insects;
  • during transplantation, the roots of plants were mechanically damaged.

To prevent death planting material, soil in greenhouses and greenhouses must be pre-treated from pests and infections. It is necessary to start doing preventive cleaning of greenhouse shelters and soil cultivation immediately after harvesting the remains of fruit-bearing plants.

The contaminated soil is completely removed from the greenhouse and steamed soil is introduced instead. Immediately before planting seedlings, steep boiling water is poured into each prepared hole in an amount of 2 to 5 liters. Then the beds can be treated with a slightly pink solution of manganese.

Note! If the plants began to wither due to too high temperature inside the shelter, you need to slightly open the windows or the door. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that drafts that are detrimental to weak and small shoots do not form in the greenhouse. Otherwise, sprouts steamed in a hot room, cooled by a stream of cold air, will begin to disappear.

Seedlings will begin to wither and die if water is poured into the soil. root system, flooded with water, rots and the plant can completely disappear. To regulate the amount of moisture in the soil, in greenhouses you can do drip irrigation. The fluid coming through such a system will be enough to ensure the normal development of plants.

Why do tomato seedlings die after picking

One of the most common factors affecting the poor condition of young tomato shoots in the ground is mechanical damage to their root system during transplantation. In such plants, the top with leaves has a stunted appearance and may fall off. After a while, the sluggish sprout will completely dry out.

Important! When transplanting seedlings, you need to remove the roots from the seedling box along with a lump of soil. A few hours before transplanting, the soil in the container with shoots is abundantly poured with water.

It is even more convenient to plant plants that have been sown for seedlings in special peat cubes or pots. Such a container is lowered into the hole along with the sprout.

Picking tomatoes

The reasons for wilting for plants planted in open beds are almost the same as for greenhouse ones. The difference is that when planted early, young shoots may wither after spring night frosts. To prevent this from happening, tomato beds need to be provided with temporary shelter.

Tomato garden pests

young tomato sprouts open beds and in greenhouses harmful insects can eat up:

  • May beetle larvae;
  • bear.

Pests eat lower part stems and roots of seedlings, after which it withers and dries. In this case, only special preparations can help, the action of which is aimed at the extermination of harmful insects. The sprouts gnawed by the bear and larvae cannot be saved.

For this reason, in order not to ask later why the tomato seedlings planted in the ground wither, it is important to carry out prevention in advance and exterminate pests before planting. vegetable crops to the beds.

Diseases of tomato seedlings

Plants on the windowsill may have a wilted appearance due to infectious diseases. Saving seedlings that wither due to improper irrigation or a draft is easy enough. To do this, you just need to adjust the number of waterings, and move the boxes to another place. It is much more difficult to treat seedlings affected by pathogenic fungi or bacteria.

The most common diseases of tomato seedlings:

  • blackleg,
  • fusarium.

Note! The infection can enter the room along with poorly prepared soil. For this reason, the soil purchased in the store must be weeded and treated with antiseptics. None of the infections that are dangerous for tomatoes can withstand exposure to high temperatures.

Plants affected by an infectious disease can be tried to be saved. How to do it? To do this, they need to be sprayed with a solution of antiseptics and transplanted into the treated soil.

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